Talk:Smarties (Nestlé)

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smarties are sweets or candy. they're produced by nestle and are most scrumptuous and spaffworthy.

Contents 1 Orange-Flavour in Canada 2 Separate pages 3 Smarties Eggs 4 Not in the US? 5 M&M's vs Smarties? 6 Chopsticks and records 7 Smarties box as a musical instrument 8 Slogan change timing 9 Peanuts 10 White Smarties (in the UK) 11 Smarties perceptual mapping 12 Red Dye No. 2 Scare 13 Hexagonal Tubes 14 Article sound like advertising 15 In the US 16 Red not allowed in the US 17 A Strange type of smartie... 18 Light Brown Smarties? 19 Orange Smarties 20 UK vs. Canada vs. elsewhere 21 Smarties disambig talk page redirects here 22 Unsourced trivia 23 Scientific Dimensions 24 Singular Term

[edit] Orange-Flavour in Canada

I'm from Canada and I don't recall our orange Smarties having an orange-flavoured chocolate. Am I just not tasting it? 64.25.184.202 00:00, 13 February 2007 (UTC)Jasmine, Ontario, Canada

I haven't had any orange flavour or coffee flavoured Smarties either. Though now Smarties is introducing fruit flavoured candy (but I don't think there is chocolate in it).

[edit] Separate pages

I suggest we split this page into two — Smarties (Nestlé) and Smarties (Ce De Candy) — I think it would be easier to treat them separately. — Matt Crypto 14:29, 18 Feb 2005 (UTC)

I agree. The two products have no real link. Frankie Roberto

[edit] Smarties Eggs

1. Could we also add the egg shape Smarties?
2. Also there is the pay off line "Wotalotigot"
3. McDonald’s in South Africa offer McFlurry toppings of Oreo’s, Smarties, Cadbury’s Crunchie or Astros.
4. The Frùttolo fruit-flavored snack yogurt with Smarties chocolate drops launched in Italy.
5. Smarties Award for Children's Books in UK

In South Africa, Smarties are packaged mostly in rectangle boxes of different sizes (eg 61g, 150g)

So much to expand on--Jcw69 14:52, 18 Feb 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Not in the US?

Why aren't Smarties sold in the US? Does anyone have any idea? Kaiser matias 05:46 1 Mar 2005 (UTC)

The Smarties brand name within the US was sold to Ce De Candy at some point, who produce Smarties (Ce De Candy), which are quite different. So they both are and aren't sold in the US ;-) — Matt Crypto 10:25, 1 Mar 2005 (UTC)

[edit] M&M's vs Smarties?

Which sells better in the UK, Smarties or M&Ms? This should be added.

That's hard to say; I can't find a source anywhere (or for that matter a website which lists the most popular sweets in general). M&M's were fairly obscure in the UK until quite recently, and checking Wikipedia's own article I see that they weren't sold here as M&M's until 1990, although nowadays they are very common in cinemas because of their practicality, and because you can eat more M&M's than Smarties, over a longer period of time, without being sick. Smarties have a definite kid-friendly appeal, whereas M&M's seem more grown-up, and indeed they are more expensive.-Ashley Pomeroy 15:03, 4 May 2005 (UTC)

To answer the person at the top of this page, Smarties are generally called 'chocolates' or just 'Smarties', and no British person would ever use the word 'candy' and certainly not 'candies'. I add that the singular of 'Smarties' is 'Smartie' and not 'Smarty'. Also, the product sort-of competes with Maltesers, Cadbury's Buttons, Refreshers and Galaxy's chocolate buttons in that they are all social sweets, i.e. you can share them readily (less so Rolos, because you get fewer of them).-Ashley Pomeroy 14:48, 4 May 2005 (UTC)

I may be diverting from the subject here, but Smarties have a notably big advantage over M&M; the tube is extremely useful, whereas an empty M&M's packet is just a ripped sheet of plastic. A Smarties tube can be used as a smoothbore projectile launcher (blow-gun, mortar), a straw (to suck things with), a container (stones?), and also as a splint (if you were to break a finger, say). Furthermore, an array of five or six hundred tubes, placed end-on into the ground, can be used as a comfortable mattress.-Ashley Pomeroy 14:54, 4 May 2005 (UTC)

Furthering the social sense of Smarties - and although this information cannot go in the article, it might help to inform writers - a tube of Smarties is small enough that it can be used as a platonic non-binding gift, in the sense that to buy someone a tube of Smarties is not a declaration of love, merely friendly affection. If one were to offer one's workmate(s) a whole bar of Cadbury's Dairy Milk, for example, that would definitely cross a line into erotic or emotional obsession; whereas a tube of Smarties is neither too small to be insulting, nor too large to be awkward. As a hetereosexual, I would never buy a man a bar of chocolate, but I could contemplate a buying him a tube of Smarties, although I would probably choose Refreshers instead; albeit that I probably wouldn't buy another man a gift. Individual Smarties can also be used as tokens, because they are cute; more importantly, they can be requested from other people, because to deny someone an individual Smartie would be excessively petty or cheapskate, an insult. In this respect they are superior to Rolos, which are individually too large to be casually given away. Furthermore, whereas crisps are generally eaten in one mass, individual Smarties can safely be distributed amongst many different people.-Ashley Pomeroy 15:01, 4 May 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Chopsticks and records

That 25 Oct 2003 record might be out of date: [1] (attempt) and [2] (no mention in 2005 book). I can't say this uncertainty keeps me awake at night, but just for your information... :) --Telsa 14:53, 8 Jun 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Smarties box as a musical instrument

In Canada, as long as I can remember, Smarties have been packaged in a cardboard box. Up until something less than a decade ago, these boxes were well-loved by Canadian children, who all knew that if you sealed your mouth over the open end and blew, it would produce a distinctive honking/sqeaking noise. This was very much part of the Canadian Smartie experience. For some reason unknown to me, and at a date I can't recall (though I certainly did notice the event), they changed the box design in a way that eliminated this effect. Can anyone fill in the missing details so this can be added to the article? 216.75.170.81 18:46, 16 September 2005 (UTC)

Oh, BTW-- I have received special Christmas edition smarties in a tube with red plastic caps. AFAICR, they were normal Canadian Smarties. 216.75.170.81 18:50, 16 September 2005 (UTC)

I was a Smarties musician back when I was a squirt. Can't remember when it was changed, but I recall that the ends were being sealed/glued for security right around the time we had a large scare with unsealed Tylenol pill bottles... (not really a strong enough reference for the page, sorry) --Bookandcoffee 03:31, 14 October 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Slogan change timing

I first started seeing Smarties commercials when I moved to Canada in the early 1990s, and I remember them still using the "When you eat your Smarties, do you eat the red ones last?" jingle. Maybe the timing was different in different markets? 83.71.57.131

[edit] Peanuts

Are Smarties safe for people with peanut allergies? (M&M's are not; barring changes that I haven't heard about, even plain M&M's have ground peanuts as an ingredient of their chocolate. This is listed among the ingredients on the bag.) --Trovatore 21:05, 17 January 2006 (UTC)

I believe so. Unlike M&Ms, there isn't a peanut version of smarties, and my brother eats them and isn't dead. However, always check the packaging because things change. Skittle 14:18, 8 May 2006 (UTC)

There is now a peanut version (at least in Canada), but Nestle makes a special effort to keep regular Smarties away from peanut Smarties and other Nestle peanut bars. The same goes for Kit Kats, Aeros, and Coffee Crisps. A few years ago, they were going to change this, but they got tons of negative response, so they changed their minds. Now, Smarties have a peanut free safe to share logo in Canada. 70.64.106.136 02:45, 6 December 2006 (UTC)

[edit] White Smarties (in the UK)

As part of a marketing campaign, there was a period when white Smarties were available. Can anyone remember more details on this? I have a feeling it was the early 1990s. I also think gold Smarties have existed as part of a competition (find the gold Smartie and win...).

White Smarties have been available several times, most recently in mid 2005 when tubes of only black and white Smarties were issued (due to another marketing campaign where someone 'nicked the colour'). The first, though, and the one you're thinking of, was in 1990- see [link removed]. BillyH 17:05, 30 January 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Smarties perceptual mapping

Does anyone have a perceptual map showing how consumers perceive Smarties compared to competition such as m&m's. Thanks- Reiner.

[edit] Red Dye No. 2 Scare

I have read that during the Red Dye No. 2(also known as Amaranth) scare Nestlé stopped making red Smarties even though they contained a different dye. I haven't had much luck with finding out much more though and don't have enough info to add to the article. Does anyone else know more about this? Also I was wondering if there's a connection between this Red Dye scare and the slogan "Do you eat the red ones last?", or if it's just coincidence.

[edit] Hexagonal Tubes

I heard from a Nestlé sales representative that apparently by switching to the Hexagonal tubes they could be fit more into a box, and therefore save upon transit costs (most notably fuel). Does this seem anything like the truth to anyone? If not its quite a fun little urban legend. --Neo 17:25, 6 May 2006 (UTC)

It makes perfect sense, as hexagons fit together without any space between them (as in a honeycomb). The cardboard is also thinner than in the previous tube, due to the hexagonal form being sturdier than a tube, so the packaging is notably lighter; from the consumer point of view, it doesn't roll off the table as easily as the old tube did. I'll have to buy a box (yum!) and put a picture of it in the article.  ProhibitOnions  ^(T) 20:42, 30 May 2006 (UTC)

I'm actually wondering about the reasons for the change from cylindrical tubes to hexagonal boxes. I have heard rumours that certain safety standards committees were getting complaints that the tubes may be dangerous as the lids provided a choking hazard. Is there any more information on this, or is it just hearsay?--Like omgzz 21:09, 28 June 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Article sound like advertising

I think that parts of this article sounds like advertising.

eg. "Fun facts" heading, "Smarties song" section

Anonymous__Anonymous 12:39, 16 June 2006 (UTC)

I've taken the NPOV tag off as it looks like recent work has cleared things up somewhat. The Smarties song is just a bit of doggerel, IMO - the page would be just fine without it as it's there without attribution or anything else. Maybe that should go as well.. --Mike 20:24, 30 June 2006 (UTC)

[edit] In the US

Smarties are available in the US as "Smart Alecs", though they're difficult to find. You can get them at Larry's Market in the QA district of Seattle, in the "British Foods" section. —Ashley Y

[edit] Red not allowed in the US

I remembered hearing of a story from when I was a kid about red Smarties not being allowed in the US. So just now I looked it up on the Times Digital Archive and I found a story from 1982. [The Times, Saturday, Jan 30, 1982; pg. 1;] Some chap unconnected with Rowntrees decided to import 200 tubes of Smarties into the US in order to test market them on US children. His name was William Reid and he normally imported glassware. When he arrived at New York customs the customs official looked at the Smarties and then called in an officer from the Food and Drugs administration who decided that Reid could bring in all of the coloured Smarties except the red ones. Accoding to the story in the paper, the reason given was that the red ones resembled an "illicit drug" and that they contained cochineal [spelled cochinelle in the story] which, according to The Times reporter, was banned in foods in the US. So Reid, his family and some children at the airport went through the 7200 Smarties sorting out the red ones, and putting them to one side. They were not allowed to eat them they had to be destroyed. He was then able to proceed with the tubes re-packed with the remaining colours. When Rowntrees heard of the story they were not suprised. The did not directly export to the US; but had a licensing deal with Hersheys. Apparently they had six different sets of Smarties that were exported to approx. 80 different countries and the various food regulations were so intractable that "we have to have it worked out for us by a computer programme (sic)". I'm not sure how best to put this in the article. Is cochineal banned in foods in the US? Jooler 09:04, 6 July 2006 (UTC)

Idiot, that's the way programme is spelled. Dolt! —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 70.50.54.178 (talk • contribs).

A television programme is spelled programme. A computer program is spelled program as any British English dictionary will tell you. Jooler 17:44, 14 July 2006 (UTC)

You don't get more English than the OED, and it disagrees with you (of course). Program is an incorrect US variant. You guys should form a club. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 70.50.54.178 (talk • contribs).

Well firstly the OED is an International Dictionary. It even has an North American sub-Editor Jesse Sheidlower. Secondly I can't find anything in it that "disagrees with me". But under "programmer" it lists - "e. spec. One who writes computer programs" - while in other cases it lists the word as program(me)s. The distinction is similar to that between metre a unit of measure, and meter a measuring device. Granted that the origin of program with regard to a computer program is of US origin but it is normal British usage and was so in even in the 1980s amongst software professionals. Who are you referring to as "you guys" anyway? Jooler 08:14, 15 July 2006 (UTC)

Cochineal. Well, it's made from beetles, and knowing that might make kids sick...if they were truly the whiners the Nanny State percieved them to be. I think they would use artificial cochineal now to get rid of moans from the animal-lovers. Although I have a nasty feeling blue smarties might now have been banned because they have to use artificial colourings, and smarties 'no longer have those'...Nanny State strikes again. Lady BlahDeBlah 22:20, 25 August 2006 (UTC)

How is it 'Nanny State' when a manufacturer follows a market trend for 'no artificial...' and removes something to enable it to make adverts implying its product is relatively healthy, so that consumers who are concerned about such things (ie, an increasing number) will buy their product? That's capitalism! There was no state involvement at all. Skittle 09:53, 26 August 2006 (UTC)

Twas probably Nanny's idea in the first place. Follow my new and boring legislations or get hounded out of my country. Same vein allows schools to confiscate items of a young child's packed lunch because they're even vaguely 'unhealthy'. Even if the sweet bar says 'LO FAT' on the effing label.

Twats. (You can tell I hate livin' 'ere, can't you...)Lady BlahDeBlah 15:53, 29 August 2006 (UTC)

[edit] A Strange type of smartie...

I vaguely remember in around 1997 eating packets of smarties that came in a bag, (UK by the way) rather like the bags Minstrels or Malteasers come in. However, among these smarties there were larger multicoloured type smarties which I think contained white chocolate. I believe this type had a UFO or Alien theme (perhaps that's what the multicoloured ones were supposed to represent...) however, I can't be sure. I'm pretty sure they were named Smarties: something, though. Anyone any info? And no, I'm not getting mixed up with Astros!

They were called Smarties Secrets, and they totally rocked. See them [link removed]. BillyH 23:19, 4 August 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Light Brown Smarties?

Before 1958, light brown had a poo-flavoured centre.

A poo-flavoured centre?

Please.

Vandalism that no one noticed. Now fixed. BillyH 10:12, 9 October 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Orange Smarties

I'm not sure how this is on WP:RS, but it is claimed that "Painstaking efforts have been made to ensure that all the information contained within the Miscellany is accurate." Schott, Ben (2003). Schott's Food and Drink Miscellany. London: Bloomsbury Publishing, p82. ISBN 0-7475-6654-2. “Orange Smarties are the most popular - perhaps because they are orange-flavoured.” 

[edit] UK vs. Canada vs. elsewhere

Many of the statements made on this page appear to only apply only to the product sold in the UK, or at least they exclude the product sold in Canada. It is difficult to discern which statements apply globally, especially in the history section (such as the coffee flavoured light-brown ones). Does anyone know when smarties were first introduced Canada? www.nestle.ca is not very helpful. I am almost positive the orange ones are not orange flavoured in Canada, unless it happened very recently. I'd never even heard speculation of such a thing --Someones life 05:47, 7 December 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Smarties disambig talk page redirects here

Fix?

I had wanted to say that if Nestle Smarties are worldwide except the United States and the other Smarties are only in the US, shouldn't the Nestle Smarties be above the other Smarties in the list? Vitriol 01:42, 23 December 2006 (UTC)

I've removed the redirect. Just as a comment, I don't think it really matters which is listed first. To me, nestle smarties are the "real" smarties, but it still doesn't matter which is listed first. Besides, "Ce De Candy" comes before Nestle alphabetically. Bladestorm 18:46, 16 January 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Unsourced trivia

• On 25 October, 2003, Kathryn Ratcliffe set a Guinness World Record by eating 138 Smarties in three minutes using chopsticks.
  • Apparently 170 smarties, according to [3], although I would be happier if someone has access to the book so we could reference that. This 'events' page is likely to change. Skittle 23:24, 2 January 2007 (UTC)
• In Canada, Smarties are traditionally all the same chocolate flavour inside, although recent marketing trials have included boxes of flavoured candy. Some flavours include Sundae and Orange. Smarties in Canada are usually sold in either a plastic bag or an oblong cardboard box.

• For limited periods in 1993, 1995, and 2000, tubes containing only orange Smarties were available in the UK.

• The 1980 album "Sky 2" by the British instrumental band Sky features a track called Tuba Smarties (a pun on "tube of Smarties").

• Recording artist Dan Bern produced a double CD in 1998 called "Smartie Mine" with a track of the same name praising the color and imagination of the candies. There are numerous shots on the album artwork of Dan eating Smarties or of Smarties individually or in dishes.

• In the UK, during the December holiday period in 2006, special tubes of just Pink Smarties, and similarly Black and White ("Robbers" - pictures of cartoon robbers were on the packaging) Smarties, were on sale.

Let's get some sources for these, if people want them in the article. Certainly I find the last 'fact' dubious, given my close searching of the sweet market this Christmas :-) Skittle 23:18, 2 January 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Scientific Dimensions

Smarties are oblate spheroids with a minor axis of about 5 mm (0.2 in) and a major axis of about 15 mm (0.6 in) C'mon, these are CANDY minor and major axis measurements? CHILDREN are the ones who are going to be looking this up. How about some english? —The preceding unsigned comment was added by JDHannan (talk • contribs) 02:05, 28 February 2007 (UTC).

[edit] Singular Term

What is the singular term for Smarties? —The preceding unsigned comment was added by Simpol363 (talk • contribs) 00:20, 6 March 2007 (UTC).

I guess it's Smartie? 195.210.214.180 21:05, 29 March 2007 (UTC)